TimberTech vs Trex vs AZEK: Complete Pricing Guide for Contractors (2026)
Complete 2026 pricing for every Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK product line. Contractor cost per sq ft, warranty differences, and how to present each brand to homeowners.
For a contractor pricing composite decking in 2026, Trex Enhance is the cheapest at $4–$7 per square foot in contractor material cost. TimberTech PRO is the closest direct competitor at roughly the same price with marginally better cap technology. AZEK PVC sits in a tier of its own at $10–$16/sq ft — substantially more, but with a 50-year warranty and zero moisture absorption. The right brand for a deck contractor isn't the cheapest. It's the one that closes the most jobs at the highest dollar margin.
This guide breaks down every product line from the Big Three composite brands — with 2026 contractor pricing, warranty differences, and the script for presenting all three to a homeowner at the kitchen table.
What's the difference between Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK?
Trex and TimberTech are both wood-plastic composite (WPC). AZEK is full-PVC capped polymer — no wood content at all. TimberTech and AZEK are owned by the same parent company (the AZEK Company); Trex is a separately publicly-traded brand. TimberTech covers the AZEK Company's composite lines while the AZEK brand name is reserved for its premium PVC. Trex has roughly twice the homeowner brand recognition of either, which is the single most important fact to remember when you're presenting options.
Trex
Market position: Category leader, highest brand recognition Manufacturing: Wood-plastic composite (WPC) Product lines: Enhance, Select, Transcend (good/better/best) Key differentiator: Brand name recognition, widest color selection, Trex Residential warranty
TimberTech (by AZEK)
Market position: Premium composite and capped polymer Manufacturing: Both WPC (Pro and Edge lines) and capped polymer (Advanced PVC) Product lines: PRO (budget), Edge (mid), Vintage/Landmark (premium composite), Harvest/Coastline (PVC) Key differentiator: Widest range of product types, both composite and PVC under one brand
AZEK (by TimberTech)
Market position: Premium PVC decking Manufacturing: Capped polymer (PVC—no wood content) Product lines: Harvest, Arbor, Vintage Key differentiator: Full PVC (no wood content), best moisture/stain resistance, premium pricing
Note: TimberTech and AZEK are both owned by the AZEK Company. TimberTech covers the composite lines; AZEK covers the premium PVC lines. They share distribution but target different price points.
How much do Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK cost in 2026?
Contractor material cost runs $4–$7/sq ft at the budget end (Trex Enhance, TimberTech PRO), $6–$10/sq ft mid-tier (Trex Select, TimberTech Edge and Landmark), and $8–$16/sq ft premium (Trex Transcend, TimberTech Vintage, all AZEK lines). Installed cost lands at roughly 4–5× material cost depending on labor rate and complexity. Prices below are 2026 contractor material costs per square foot for boards only — confirm with your local distributor before quoting.
Trex Product Lines
| Product Line | Tier | Material Cost/sq ft | Installed Cost/sq ft | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhance Basics | Budget | $4–$6 | $28–$38 | 25-year limited |
| Enhance Naturals | Budget+ | $5–$7 | $30–$42 | 25-year limited |
| Select | Mid | $6–$8 | $32–$48 | 25-year limited |
| Transcend | Premium | $8–$11 | $38–$55 | 25-year limited |
| Transcend Lineage | Ultra-premium | $10–$13 | $42–$60 | 50-year limited |
Trex highlights:
- Enhance is the volume leader—most commonly specified composite
- Transcend offers the most realistic wood grain patterns
- Lineage is Trex's newest premium line with deeper colors
- All Trex products made from 95% recycled materials
TimberTech Product Lines
| Product Line | Tier | Material Cost/sq ft | Installed Cost/sq ft | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRO Terrain | Budget | $5–$7 | $30–$42 | 25-year limited |
| Edge Prime+ | Mid | $6–$8 | $32–$46 | 30-year limited |
| Landmark | Premium | $8–$10 | $38–$52 | 30-year limited |
| Vintage | Ultra-premium | $9–$12 | $40–$58 | 30-year limited |
TimberTech highlights:
- PRO line competes directly with Trex Enhance on price
- Edge and Landmark offer slightly better fade/stain resistance than comparable Trex
- Vintage has the most realistic multi-tonal color streaking
- All composite lines use recycled content
AZEK PVC Product Lines
| Product Line | Tier | Material Cost/sq ft | Installed Cost/sq ft | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | PVC Entry | $10–$13 | $42–$58 | 50-year limited |
| Arbor | PVC Mid | $11–$14 | $45–$62 | 50-year limited |
| Vintage | PVC Premium | $12–$16 | $48–$68 | 50-year limited |
AZEK highlights:
- Full PVC (no wood content) = zero moisture absorption
- Won't mold, rot, or swell even in direct ground contact
- Coolest surface temperature of the three brands
- 50-year limited warranty on all product lines
- Premium pricing justified by longest lifespan and lowest maintenance
Which composite brand is cheapest for the same tier?
At budget tier, Trex Enhance edges out TimberTech PRO by $1–$2/sq ft on material — but TimberTech often offers slightly better fade resistance at the same price point. AZEK doesn't compete in budget (no PVC under $10/sq ft). At mid-tier, TimberTech Edge or Landmark beats Trex Select on warranty length (30 years vs 25) and capping technology (4-sided vs 3-sided) at comparable pricing. At premium, Trex Transcend and TimberTech Vintage are within $1–$2/sq ft of each other; AZEK Vintage runs $3–$5/sq ft higher but adds the 50-year warranty and full PVC durability.
At the Budget Tier ($4-7/sq ft material)
| Trex Enhance | TimberTech PRO | AZEK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material cost | $4-7 | $5-7 | N/A (no budget PVC) |
| Warranty | 25 years | 25 years | — |
| Colors | 8-10 | 6-8 | — |
| Cap technology | 3-sided | 3-sided | — |
| Best for | Highest volume, lowest cost | Slightly better cap | — |
Recommendation: Trex Enhance for budget projects. Widest color range and lowest cost. TimberTech PRO is a solid alternative if your supplier has better pricing.
At the Mid Tier ($6-10/sq ft material)
| Trex Select | TimberTech Edge/Landmark | AZEK Harvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material cost | $6-8 | $6-10 | $10-13 |
| Warranty | 25 years | 30 years | 50 years |
| Colors | 4-6 | 8-12 | 6-8 |
| Cap technology | 3-sided | 4-sided | Full PVC |
| Fade resistance | Good | Better | Best |
Recommendation: TimberTech Edge or Landmark for mid-tier. Better capping technology and longer warranty at similar pricing. AZEK Harvest for customers who want the PVC premium.
At the Premium Tier ($8-16/sq ft material)
| Trex Transcend | TimberTech Vintage | AZEK Vintage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material cost | $8-13 | $9-12 | $12-16 |
| Warranty | 25-50 years | 30 years | 50 years |
| Colors | 8-10 | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| Wood grain realism | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Moisture resistance | Good | Good | Best (PVC) |
Recommendation: Trex Transcend for best brand recognition and realistic grain. TimberTech Vintage for multi-tonal realism. AZEK Vintage for maximum durability and moisture resistance.
How does installation differ between Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK?
All three install similarly with hidden fasteners on 16" OC joists. The differences that affect your quote: Trex Enhance and Select drop to 12" OC for diagonal installations; PVC (AZEK) requires significantly larger expansion gaps than composite because it expands more with temperature, and dark colors expand the most. CONCEALoc and Tiger Claw clips run roughly $0.40 each across all three brands. Ignoring PVC expansion specs is the single most common cause of buckling callbacks on AZEK installs — always follow the manufacturer's gap chart.
Fastening Systems
- Trex: Trex Universal Clip or face screw. Clips at ~$0.40 each.
- TimberTech: CONCEALoc hidden fastener. Similar pricing to Trex clips.
- AZEK: CONCEALoc or Tiger Claw. Same fastening system as TimberTech.
Joist Spacing Requirements
- Trex Enhance/Select: 16" OC standard, 12" OC for diagonal
- Trex Transcend: 16" OC standard
- TimberTech composite: 16" OC standard
- AZEK PVC: 16" OC standard (PVC is lighter per sq ft)
Gapping and Expansion
- Composite (Trex/TimberTech): Expands/contracts with temperature. Gap boards per manufacturer specs (typically 1/8" to 3/16" at ends).
- PVC (AZEK): Expands more than composite. Requires careful gapping per installation guide. Dark colors expand most.
Important: PVC expansion gaps are critical. Ignoring manufacturer specs leads to buckling callbacks. Always follow the installation guide.
How should a contractor present these three brands to a homeowner?
Anchor to Trex because that's the name homeowners know, then use TimberTech and AZEK as upgrade tiers. The 3-brand pitch closes more jobs at higher margins than offering a single brand: a homeowner who came in expecting Trex Enhance often upgrades to TimberTech Landmark or AZEK Vintage once shown all three side-by-side. On a 16×20 deck (320 sq ft), the pricing impact is real money — roughly $2,600 higher installed cost for TimberTech Landmark vs Trex Enhance, and $6,200 higher for AZEK Vintage. Your margin percentage stays the same; the dollar profit goes up.
The Three-Brand Pitch
Most homeowners know Trex. Use that as your anchor:
Script: "Trex is the most popular composite decking brand—you've probably seen their ads. For your deck, I can offer three levels:
- Trex Enhance at $[X] — Great composite decking, 25-year warranty, the best value
- TimberTech Landmark at $[X] — Premium composite with 4-sided capping and a 30-year warranty
- AZEK Vintage at $[X] — Full PVC decking, zero moisture absorption, 50-year warranty
All three are maintenance-free and look beautiful. The difference is durability, warranty length, and how realistic the wood grain looks."
Pricing Impact Example (16×20 Deck)
| Brand/Line | Materials | Installed | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trex Enhance | $1,600 | $10,200 | Baseline |
| TimberTech Landmark | $2,600 | $12,800 | +$2,600 |
| AZEK Vintage | $4,200 | $16,400 | +$6,200 |
Your margin strategy: Maintain the same labor and markup percentages across brands. Higher material cost = higher dollar markup = higher profit dollars per job, even at the same percentage.
For more on presenting material options, see our composite vs pressure-treated pricing guide. And for the full estimating walkthrough, check how to estimate a deck job.
Which brand gives a deck contractor the best margin?
It depends on your supplier relationships, but generally: AZEK PVC gives the highest dollar margin per job because customers who choose AZEK aren't price-shopping it the way they shop Trex. Trex Enhance wins on volume margin — lowest material cost, fastest sale because homeowners already know the brand. TimberTech mid-tier is the sweet spot for upsells because homeowners don't comparison-shop TimberTech as aggressively as Trex. The per-brand breakdown:
- Trex Enhance: Lowest material cost, highest volume. Good margins on volume.
- TimberTech mid-tier: Higher material cost, but less price competition (homeowners don't price-check TimberTech as aggressively as Trex).
- AZEK PVC: Highest material cost, but customers who choose AZEK are less price-sensitive. Best dollar margin per job.
Pro tip: Don't default to Trex just because homeowners know the name. Presenting TimberTech or AZEK as an upgrade option often increases your average job value by $2,000-$5,000 with minimal additional labor.
For help with the full deck contractor pricing strategy, our pricing guide covers markup, overhead, and profit targets.
FAQ
Is Trex better than TimberTech? Neither is objectively "better." Trex has higher brand recognition and wider distribution. TimberTech offers better capping technology in its mid-tier products. The best choice depends on your customer's priorities: brand name (Trex) or product features (TimberTech).
Is AZEK worth the premium over Trex? For customers who prioritize longevity and moisture resistance—especially in humid, rainy, or poolside environments—yes. The 50-year warranty and zero moisture absorption justify the premium for the right buyer.
Which brand is easiest to install? All three install similarly. Hidden fastener systems are comparable across brands. AZEK PVC requires more attention to expansion gaps, which adds a few minutes per board but isn't difficult.
Should I stock multiple brands? Not necessarily. Partner with one or two brands your supplier stocks consistently. Having reliable supply and volume pricing matters more than offering every brand. Most contractors offer Trex plus one alternative (TimberTech or AZEK).
How often do composite prices change? Major brands typically announce annual price adjustments in Q4 for the following year. Expect 3-8% annual increases. Lock in pricing with your supplier for the season if possible.
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